Sphygmomanometer cuff, inflatable tourniquet or the like, and method of forming the same



I June 29; 1948.

, J. D. HANAFIN 2,444,161' SPHYGMOMANOMETER CUFF, INFLATABLE TOURNIQUETOR THE LIKE AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME F iled Sept. 16, 1944 I Z Sheets-Sheet 1 F INVENTOR 4 JOjEPH D. HANAFIN June 29, 1948. HANAF|N-2,444,161

SPHYGMOMANOMETER CUFF, INFLATABLE TOURNIQUE'I' on THE LIKE AND METHODOF- FORMING THE SAME Filed Sept. 16, 1944 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENITOR 5 PHD. HANAFlN ATTORNEYS Patented June 29, 1948 SPHYGMOMANOMETER CUFF,INFLATABLE TOUBNIQUET on THE LIKE, AND METHOD or ORMIN HE E Joseph D.Hanafin, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W.

A. Baum (3.0., 1110., on o w York New iiork, N. Y., a corpora,-

" Application September 16, 1944, Serial No. 554,346

relates to a sph-ygmomanometer cuff, air-inflated pressure tourniquet orthe like, and to a method of forming and making the same.

The usual open-type sphygmomanometer fabric cuff, including aninflatable rubber bag disposed within the casing at one portionthereofiis se- This invention cured around the arm of the patient by awinding and wrapping operation and by tucking the end of the materialunder the wound portions of the cufi. Such cuffs are awkward to applyand require a considerable length of material for their construction.They do, however, have the advantage when applied, of conforming to thecontour of the arm. Other known open type cuffs also require wrappingand are provided with latching means to hold the same in position forinflation of the bag. i

It is an object of the present invention to provide a flexible fabriccuff, including an inflatable rubber bag, tourniquet or the like, whichcan be applied with case without wrapping and winding. To that end acuff, tourniquet or the like is provided in the form of a closed loopwhich has the advantage of being easily applied and removed and whichwhen applied conforms readily to almost any shape and size of arm orlimb within reasonable limits, as effectively as the open-type of cuff.n

A further object'of theinvention is to provide a method of forming andmaking the closed-loop cuff, tourniquet or the like from a single stripof fabric, so that the resulting cuff and casing is provided with aseries of integrally formed cartridge-like pockets or loops providingmeans on the outer surface thereof for retaining the fastening hooksafter being inserted therein.

According to the present invention, the cuff, tourniquet or the'likc isin the form of a closed loop of a sufiicientdiameter into which thepatients arm or leg may be inserted readily. The cuff is thereuponclosely applied about the arm or leg by gathering together the slack endportion of the loop and folding the same back upon itself over theportion closely contacting and enclosing the arm. One form of cuif ismade from a single strip of material with its sides folded inwardly andthe folded strip stitched crosswise along its length to provide two rowsof cartridgelike pockets or loops atpopposite sides of the cuff intowhich'the fastening hooks can be inserted easily. The ends of the foidedand stitched strip are stitched or otherwise connected together toprovide a closed .or endless loop .of such size as to enclose, with someslack, arms or legs of a reasonable range of sizes. Two spaced flapssorfastens 7 ing projections, which can flex independently of each other,are located respectively at the sides of the cuff and in alignment withthe pocket rows. U-shaped hooks, each of which has a leg portion adaptedto fit the pockets, are respectively se- The hooks can be fastened curedto the flaps.

in staggered pockets can be adjusted to other edge of the cuff so thatone edge of the can a greater length than the Fig. 1 shows asphygmomanometer cuff attached to a patients arm with the hooks fittedin staggered pockets, thereby allowing the cuff to be adjusted to thearm shape;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cuff as it ap-f pears unattached fromthe patient; Y

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the single fabric strip from which the cuff thestrip is folded;

Fig. 4 is a .crossesectional view of the folded portion of the strip andtaken on line 4-4 of" Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a modified form of a cuff wherein the cartridge-like pocketsare formed by sewing narrow strips on the outer side of the main strip;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-4: of Fig. 5 andthrough the inflatable bag covering;

Fig. 7 is a. perspective view of the tourniquet" made from a'halfsection of the folded strip of Fi 4;

Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof the tourniquetf of Fig. 7 applied to thepatients arm;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of tourniquet with thepockets made plemental narrow strip; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line Iii-4i) of Fig. 9with portions of the tourniquet in perspective extending therefrom andwith a hook in a pocket. 7

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4, one form of cuff I2 is shown. strip I3,Fig. material, 4!.

3, of fabri, twill or other flexible whereby the cuff can readilyconform to dimensional variations of the pais made and illustrating howfrom a sup- This cuff is made from a single The strip has three ngtchesI 4, i4 and j cut in each of its ends and is folded from opposite sidesalong lines extending from end to end and between outer notches, asillustrated at 15, and with its outer edge 16 folded under, as indicatedat 11. Two-ply or tongue-shaped projections l8, 19 are thus formed ofthe folded strip ends, one at each side of inner'notch l4. Severalspaced parallel stitchings 2B are made crosswise of the strip to providetwo rows or series of cartridge-like pockets or loops 2|, one row ateach side of the strip. The pockets or loops provide fastening-memberreceiving devices on the outer surface of the casing. The ends of thestrip are brought together so that projections l8, 19 of one end arematched with projections I6, IQ of the other end, and the ends of theprojections themselves are turned in and sewed together at 23 to retainU-shaped hooks or fastening members 24 by their legs 25. The projectionsar again sewed at 26 parallel to sewing 23 to finally retain the hookson the combined projections or flaps 21, Figs. 1, 2. A lug 28 on thehook leg 25 revents the hook from sliding out of the parallel sewings23, 26. The strip ends are again stitched or otherwise secured alongline 23 to provide closed-loop flexible casing 30 large enough to haveany siZe limb inserted and still have slack portions or slack ends 3|which may be gathered and folded or drawn over an ungathered portion 32to tighten the loop on the patients limb. ,By virtue of the end notchesl4, the flaps 21 can flex independent ly of one another and along line29. The hooks 24 on the flaps 21 each have an attaching leg 33 whichextends outwardly and is adapted to be inserted in any of the pockets2|.

On the inner side of the closed loop 30 an inflatable bag 34 is retainedby a covering fabric 35 stitched to the fabric strip I3. This bag hashose connections 36 and 31 having, respectively, a pressure gauge 38 anda pumping bulb 39.

The patient merely inserts his arm 40 through the loop 36 to locate thecuff on the upper portion 4| thereof and adjacent the arm artery. Theslack portions 3| are gathered together and folded over the ungatheredportions 32 to tightly fit the cuff to the upper arm portion 4|. Sincethe arm may have a larger diameter at the upper edge of the cuff than atthe lower edge, the hooks 24 are inserted in their in staggered relationwith one another, as shown in Fig. 1. The upper hook thus liesrearwardly of the lower hook to provide an increased amount of cuff atthe upper edge. Since the flaps can be separately flexed, the adjustmentis made without the cuff being ruflled. Once the hooks are fitted'intothe pockets, the blood pressure within the artery can'be taken. The airbulb 39 is operated to inflate the ba 34 until the fiow of blood in theartery is stopped. At this point, the pressure reading is taken from thegauge 38.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6, a double cuff 45 is shown which is appliedin the same manner that cuff I2 is applied but which is differentlyconstructed. The cartridge-like pockets 46 are formed by stitching ontoa main wide strip or web 41, as indicated at 48, separate parallelnarrow strips 49 and 50. The main strip 41 is one piece throughout itsentire length. An inflatable bag is retained by a covering fabric 5!"stitched to themain strip 41.

Both of the narrow strips and the main strip have sewed to theirparallel edges, folded-over reinforcing tape 52.

One end of the main web has separately flexed flaps 53, 54 having hooks55, 56 secured thereto by folding overthe flap ends and sewing them asto Figs. '7, 8, there is shown an formed from a half section of thefolded strip l3 of Fig. 3. A strip I3 is cut in two after it has beenfolded, and the cut edge is folded over and forcing edge 65, whenstitched, opposite to main pocket fold 65. Main pocket fold 66 isstitched to provide a series of cartridge-like pockets or respectiverows of pockets,

. provided a method whereby loops 58 adapted to receive a U-shaped hook69 secured to joined ends 10 of the folded strip.

This tourniquet is applied to an arm 15 in the same manner that the widesphygmomanometer cuff is applied. The arm is inserted through closedloop 1| and slack portions 12, 13 are folded back firmly, over theremaining or ungathered portions 14 of the loop tightly about the arm,Fig. 8. Hook 59 is inserted into one of the cartridge-like pockets 58.

A narrow inflatable bag 16, having hose connections 11, 18 is secured tothe inner side of the loop by covering fabric 19. The bag 16 is inflatedin the usual manner to shut off the blood flow through the arm. When itis desired to reestablish circulation of the blood through the arm, airmay bewithdrawn from the inflated bag 16, to the extent required. If itis desired to permit the free flow of blood, the hook 69 may bewithdrawn from the pocket in which it is located and the completerelease of the tourniquet effected. No unwrapping or untwisting is thusnecessary to remove the tourniquet.

Referring to Figs. 9, 10, there is a tourniquet constructed similarly tothe cuff 45 of Figs. 5, 6. Cartridge-like pockets 8| are formed bystitching a, narrow strip 82 upon main strip or web 83. Both of thesestrips have their edges reinforced with folded-over tapes 84 and 85. Thestitching to provide the pockets BI is indicated at 85 and is madeacross the full width of the main strip83. The ends of the strip arejoined at 81 with hook 88 secured thereto. Inflatable bag 89 is securedto theinner side of the main strip 83 by cloth covering 90 stitchedthereto.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided asphygmomanometer cufi, tourniquet or the like, which can be readilyapplied to the patients limb without having to perform a tediouswrapping or winding operation thereupon and yet fitting the limb withthe exactness of the pped type of cuff.

It should also be apparent that there has been the fastening pockets areformed by a simple folding operation from a single strip.

What is claimed is:

1. A sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like comprising a closedloop of flexible material including an inflatable bag, through whichloop a limb of a patient may be easily inserted, portions of which loop,after the limb is so inserted, being adapted to be gathered and foldedover ungathered portions thereof, and means for fastening the gatheredportions to the ungathered portions of the loop to finally fix the cuffto e Patients limb.

under to provide a reinfl which are thus drawn 2. A sphygmom-anometercuff, tourniquet, or the like comprising a closed loop of flexiblematerial adapted to be placed over and around an arm or leg to looselyenclose the same, an inflatable bag disposed within the loop at oneportion thereof, a, series of spaced fastening-member receiving deviceson the outer surface of theloop, and a fastening member fixed to a slackend of theloopadapted to be inserted in the receiving devices afterfolding back the slack end of the loop upon itself and over the arm orleg.

3. A sphygmomanometer cuff comprising a closed-loop flexible casingadapted who placed over and around an arm or leg to loosely enclose thesame, an inflatable bag disposed within said casing, two series ofpockets arranged adjacently on the outer surface of said casing, andtwohooks afflxed to one end of said casing adapted to be independentlyinserted in the'pockets after folding back the slack end of the casingupon itself over the portion directly contacting and enclosing the armor leg to .retain said casing in place for inflation of said bag and inclosely conformed relation to the contour of the arm or leg therewithin.

4. In a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like, a closed loop offlexible material including an inflatable bag, through whichloop-a'limb" of'a patient may be easily insert-ed, said loop beingadapted to have a slack portion when thepatients limb has'been soinserted, a pair of independently flexed flaps formed onthe slackportion of the loop respectively at opposite sides of the loop,fastening members respectively connected to the flaps, and two rows offastening-member receiving devices on the outer side of the loop towhich thefastening members are respectively secured when the slackportion is gathered and folded over ungathered portions of the loop tofinally secure the loop to the patients limb.

5. In a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like, a flexible striphaving tongue-shaped ends and a row of cartridge-like pockets providedon said strip, said strip having its ends connected together to form aclosed-loop flexible casing through which a limb of a patient may beeasily inserted, an inflatable bag disposed within the casing at oneportion thereof, and a hook secured to the combined tongue-shaped endsof the strip and adapted to be inserted in the row of pockets when aslack portion of the casing is gathered together and folded overungathered portions of the casing.

6. In a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet or the like, a, closed loop offlexible material having a row of cartridge-like pockets on the outerside thereof, an inflatable bag disposed within the loop, said loophaving a slack portion when fitted over a patients limb, and a U-shapedhook having two legs and adapted to be connected by one of its legs tothe slack portion so that its other leg is free to be inserted in therow of cartridgelike pockets to secure the cuff upon a patients limb.

7. A tourniquet, or the like, fashioned from a single strip of flexiblematerial folded and stitched to provide a row of cartridge-like pockets,the ends of the strip being united to provide a closed-loop flexiblecasing, an inflatable bag disposed within the casing, and a U-shapedhook connected by one of its legs to the casing so that its other leg isfree'to be inserted into the row of cartridge-like pockets as a slackportion of the casing is gathered and folded over ungathered portions ofthe casing.

easily inserted, after the limb 8; In a sphygmomanometer' cuff,tourniquet'or thellke, a closed loopof flexible material having a rowof: cartridge-like pockets on the outer side thereof, said loophavingaslack portion-when fitted over a patientslimb, an inflatablebagdisposed within the loop,'and a U-shaped hook having two legs, saidhook being connected; by one of itslegs to the slack portion by theprovision of a sleeve formation about the said oneleg, the said one leghaving a lug to prevent the shock from being disengaged from the sleeveformation; the other of said legs being free, to be inserted therrow ofcartridge-like pockets to secure the cull to the patients limb.

9. A sphygmornanometer cuif, tourniquet, or the like comprising a closedloop of flexible ma terial through which a limb of a patient mayrbe saidloop having a slack'fportion, has been inserted, adapted to;be, gatheredand folded; over ungathercd. portionsof the loop, said loop furtherhaving two rows ,of fastening member-receiving device, one along .eachside thereof, an inflatable bag disposed within the loop, and apair offastening members on the slack. portion of the loop, one at each side ofsaid loop, and adapted to cooperate respectively with correspondingfastening-member receiving deviceasaid fastening members being adaptedto be connected respectively to staggered receiving devices, whereby thecuif may be adjusted to conform to the dimensional variations of thepatients limb. l I

1-0. Inv a sphyginomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or'the like, a flexiblestrip having separated pro-.- jections on each end thereof and twoparallel rows of cartridge-likepockets on one side thereof, said striphaving its ends connected together to provide a closed loop throughwhich a ,limblof a patient may be easily. inserted and having itsprojections connected to provide independently flexed flaps on the outerside of the loop, an inflatable bag disposed within the loop, and a hooksecured to each of the flaps and adapted to be inserted in acorresponding row of pockets when a slack portion of the loop isgathered together and folded over ungathered portions of the loop.

11. In a sp y momanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like, a flexiblestrip having separated projections on one end thereof and two rows ofcartrid'ge- -like pockets on the outer side thereof, said strip havingits one end connected to the opposite end along a, line below the baseof the projections to provide thereby a closed loop havingcartridge-like pockets and a pair of independently flexed flaps, aninflatable bag disposed within the loop, and a hook secured to each ofthe flaps and adapted to be inserted in a corresponding row of pocketswhen a slack portion of the loop is gathered together and folded overungathered portions of the loo 12. In a tourniquet or the like, aflexible strip having a row of cartridge-like pockets on one sidethereof, said strip being joined at its ends to provide a closed loop,an inflatable bag disposed within the loop, and a U-shaped hookconnected by one of its legs to the joined ends so that its other leg isfree to be inserted in the row of cartridge-like pockets as a slackportion of the loop is gathered and folded over ungathered portions ofthe loop.

13. The method of forming a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet or thelike, from a single strip of flexible material which comprises foldingthe strip from one edge thereof toward the opposite edge thereof,stitching the folded strip transversely to provide a row ofcartridge-like pockets hooks may be inserted to secure into whichfastening hooks may be inserted to secure the cuff or the like to a limbof a patient, and finally stitching the ends of the folded striptogether to provide a closed loop into which the patients limb may beeasily inserted.

14. The method of forming asphygmomanometer cull, tourniquet or thelike, from a single strip of flexible material which comprises foldingthe strip from both sides thereof toward the middle, stitchin the foldedstrip transversely to provide two rows of cartridge-like pockets intowhich fastening hooks may be inserted to secure the cuff or the likeupon a limb of a patient, and stitching the ends of the folded provide aclosed loop into which the patients limb may be easily inserted.

15. The method of forming a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet or thelike, from a single strip of flexible material which comprises formingthree notches in each of the ends of the strip, folding the sides of thestrip over lines extending between the outer notches at the ends,stitching the folded strip transversely to provide two rows ofcartridge-like pockets in to which fastening the cuff or the like to alimb of a patient, stitching the ends of the strip together along thebase line of the notches to provide a closed loop, further stitching thenotched ends together to provide separate flaps, and connecting hooks tothe flaps.

16. In a sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like, a closed loopof flexible material fashioned from a single strip of the materialfolded and stitched to provide two rows of cartridge-like pockets withthe entrances to the pockets of the two rows facing each other, saidstrip having its ends stitched together to form a closed loop, aninflatable bag disposed within the loop, and two hooks each secured tothe outside of the'loop at strip together to substantially the sameposition on the periphery of the loop in line with one of said rows andadapted to engage independently of the other any one of the pockets inthe row with which it is in line.

17. A sphygmomanometer cuff, tourniquet, or the like fashioned from asingle strip of flexible material having a notch at each end and foldedlengthwise to provide by means of crosswise stitchin two rows of pocketswith their open ends facing each other, the ends of the strip beinglapped together with the notches in coincidence and stitched down to thebase of the notches to provide a closed loop with two independentlyflexed flaps exterior to the loop, an inflatable bag disposed within theloop, and a hook fastened to each of-the flaps and adapted to engage anyone pocket in one of the rows ofpockets when the portion of the loopadjacent the base of the flaps is folded back on itself.

JOSEPH D. HANAFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

